KARACHI: A hat-trick by teenage sensation Ali Raza, Kusal Mendis’ match-winning half-century and centuries by Steve Smith and Usman Khan were the highlights of two Pakistan Super League matches on Wednesday.

In Karachi, Peshawar Zalmi’s Ali Raza dismissed Khushdil Shah, Shahid Aziz and Hasan Ali on successive balls in the final over of Karachi Kings’ innings, which ended at 182 for nine. Mendis then scored 80 not out (43b, 5×4, 4×6) to lead Zalmi’s successful run-chase, achieved for the loss of three wickets with seven balls to spare. This was Kings’ fifth straight defeat.

Later in Lahore, Steve Smith scored his maiden PSL century (106, 50b, 12×4, 6×6) to help Multan Sultans post an impressive 213 for seven against Hyderabad Kingsmen. However, Usman Khan outperformed the Australian with his first century of the season (101, 47b, 5×4, 10×6) as Kingsmen reached the target for the loss of four wickets with three balls to spare. It was Sultans’ second defeat from six matches, while Kingsmen recorded their fourth successive victory.

Ali Raza finished with figures of 4-0-41-4 and became the seventh — and youngest — bowler in PSL history to take a hat-trick. The other six are Mohammad Amir (Karachi Kings, 2016), Junaid Khan (Multan Sultans, 2017), Imran Tahir (Multan Sultans, 2018), Mohammad Sami (Islamabad United, 2019), Abbas Afridi (Multan Sultans, 2023) and Akeal Hosein (Quetta Gladiators, 2024).

Usman Khan now has four centuries from 33 PSL matches — the most by any batter — moving ahead of Babar Azam (108 matches), Fakhar Zaman (103 matches), Rilee Rossouw (103 matches) and Kamran Akmal (75 matches), who have each struck three centuries.

Mendis’ 80 not out was his fourth half-century of the season to accompany his earlier 109. He now has 493 runs from eight matches, leading team-mate Babar Azam on 426. Steve Smith has moved to third on 337 runs, while Sahibzada Farhan — who scored 66 and put on 132 for the first wicket with Smith — is fourth on 335 runs.

The bowling table is headed by Zalmi’s Sufiyan Muqeem with 18 wickets, followed by Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi on 14. Peter Siddle of Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings’ Hasan Ali have 12 wickets each.

Wednesday’s results left Multan Sultans in second place on 12 points with one match remaining, while Hyderabad Kingsmen joined Lahore Qalandars in fourth on eight points with two matches remaining. Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings are on six points each, with Gladiators having one match remaining and Kings two.

Peshawar Zalmi have already qualified for the April 28 Qualifier, while winless Rawalpindiz are guaranteed to finish bottom of the eight-team table despite having two matches remaining.

On Thursday, Islamabad United — on nine points from seven matches — take on Rawalpindiz in Karachi, while Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings lock horns in Lahore.

Scores in brief:

Match 32 – Peshawar Zalmi beat Karachi Kings by seven wickets, Lahore

KARACHI KINGS 182-9, 20 overs (Jason Roy 85, Azam Khan 35, Reeza Hendricks 13, Salman Ali Agha 12, Khushdil Shah 12, David Warner 11; Ali Raza 4-41)

PESHAWAR ZALMI 186-3, 18.5 overs (Kusal Mendis 80 not out, Farhan Yousaf 58 not out, Babar Azam 25, James Vince 16)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Kusal Mendis (Peshawar Zalmi)

Match 33 – Hyderabad Kingsmen beat Multan Sultans by four wickets, Karachi

MULTAN SULTANS 213-7, 20 overs (Steve Smith 106, Sahibzada Farhan 66, Josh Philippe 19; Akif Javed 3-30)

HYDERABAD KINGSMEN 214-6, 19.3 overs (Usman Khan 101, Marnus Labuschagne 61; Peter Siddle 3-39, Mohammad Ismail 3-41)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Usman Khan (Hyderabad Kingsmen)

THURSDAY’S FIXTURES: Islamabad United v Rawalpindiz, Karachi; Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings, Lahore

FRIDAY’S FIXTURE: Hyderabad Kingsmen v Islamabad United, Lahore

SATURDAY’S FIXTURE: Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators, Lahore; Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi, Lahore

SUNDAY’S FIXTURES: Hyderabad Kingsmen v Rawalpindiz, Karachi; Islamabad United v Multan Sultans, Lahore.